503 operations were postponed due to the industrial action called by the Malta Union for Midwives and Nurses (MUMN) last month, Health Minister Chris Fearne said.

Fearne was responding to a parliamentary question posed by PN MP Ian Vassallo who asked how the MUMN's industrial action affected outpatient appointments at Mater Dei, clinics, health centres and operations.

"A number of phlebotomy and wound care appointments at health centres have also been cancelled," Fearne added.

Industrial action had been ordered by the union last month, as the government and the MUMN had failed to come to terms on a new collected agreement.

The government had warned the MUMN that there will be consequences if there is any suffering to those needing treatment as a result of the union's industrial actions, whilst calling for a mediation process.

The MUMN then suspended the industrial action and called an Extraordinary General Meeting to let its members decide whether they agreed with the last set of proposals made by the government. However, these received a resounding "no" from the vast majority of members in the union.

The MUMN held off on calling another industrial action and is giving the government "another chance" and is in discussions again to come up with better proposals.